All the lights are comin' on now

 

"Friends' Christmas?" Gabe scowled. "Didn't we just have Friendsgiving?"

Gabe didn't mean to be Krumpus or any of those Christmas villains, but it was hardly December.

"It's better to just get it done," Sammie said she had Christmas parites at the University to attend.

"Well, you don't sound like you're in the Christmas mood either," Gabe looked at her as she had dragged out all their Christmas stuff, which was a little lame artificial tree and some homemade ornaments which she'd made for various family reasons. 

Gabe yawned, but he helped her with the tree. She then went to pop popcorn on the stove. Before he knew it she had him helping her with making strings of popcorn. At least she was eco friendly and on the cheap. As usual, he didn't know how this Friends' Christmas would pan out.

"We have a set limit of twenty bucks on gifts," she told him.

"Twenty bucks?" Gabe scowled even more. "What can that get you? & how many gifts are we talking about?"

"We're doing it all online," she looked at him as if he hadn't been paying attention at all. The names would be drawn and they only had to buy one gift (well, actually two since they were both in the drawing) Sure, he saw Rico and Mona on Thanksgiving. Somehow, they were all at Rico's dad at once in the late afternoon, but they didn't talk about Christmas. Then there was Vada and Kevin who came in the evening to watch a movie with them on Netflix. "Who did you invite?"

"Not that many people," Sammie looked around. "People we know."

"Really?" Didn't she know these people didn't even like seeing each other? They'd somehow managed to see each others enemies without any confrontation. They'd even managed to have pizza with Justin and Carmen on Black Friday. Of course, Cassie and Randy tagged along.

"It won't break the bank," she said it was a potluck.

"Oh, well, you know, how that is, you always make more than anyone else."

Gabe tilted his head and looked at Sammie as if she were just too good to be true. He knew how much she did for everyone in her family, and that so-called sister of hers never said a word to her, but her husband Deano always charmed them.

"What about Deano? Is he coming with the kids?"

"Well, she hasn't had the second one yet."

"Oh."

"I think they will stay home." Sammie shrugged as her nimble fingers went to work. 

Before long the tree looked very festive. He bet she would do more than this little party. She always did. She had plans to make everyone's favorites. (Rico's Dad) Cam and his roommate (or was that his partner? Gabe was never sure) had already put in an order for her fudge. And they wanted her to make those rolls that she'd brought for Thanksgiving.

Gabe yawned. He wished he could sleep through December. After all, winter was here and he wasn't all that excited about working it in, either.